Ames, Iowa - The Nebraska women's basketball team led by as many as nine points midway through the second half, but Iowa State closed the game with an 18-8 burst over the last eight minutes to claim a 62-57 win at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.
With the loss, Nebraska fell to 8-18 overall and 1-14 in Big 12 Conference action, while Iowa State improved to 11-15 overall and 6-9 in the league.
Margaret Richards led the Huskers with 12 points, while Shahidrah Roberts and Amanda Cleveland each pitched in 11 points to give the Huskers three players in double figures. Jina Johansen added seven points, six assists and a career-high eight rebounds. Alexa Johnson scored a season-low two points, but grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Huskers. Greichaly Cepero and Laura Pilakowski both pitched in seven points for the Huskers.
Mary Fox led the Cyclones with 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench, including 12 points and five boards in the second half. Fox also hit three of Iowa State's five three-pointers on the afternoon. Lindsey Wilson, who was coming off a 41-point effort against Colorado on Wednesday, managed just 12 points on 4-of-21 shooting. Anne O'Neil added a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards for the Cyclones.
Nebraska led 30-25 at the half after closing the opening stanza with a 6-0 run, and NU's lead grew to nine points at 43-34 after a Pilakowski free throw with just over 12 minutes to go in the game closed an 8-0 Husker run highlighted by a pair of Roberts three-pointers.
But from that point, NU managed just four field goals the rest of the way, while Fox, Wilson and O'Neil carried ISU down the stretch. Nebraska finished the game with just 32.8 percent (20-61) shooting from the field, but NU did hit 38.9 percent of its three-pointers, connecting on 7-of-18 three-pointers on the day. Nebraska also hit 62.5 percent (10-16) at the free throw line.
The Huskers were outrebounded by Iowa State, 48-43, including a decisive 13-7 rebounding edge in the final six minutes. Iowa State shot just 31.8 percent (21-66) from the field and just 29.4 percent (5-17) from three-point range. ISU did knock down 15-of-20 free throws (75 percent), including 9-of-13 free throws in the final 6:23.
Nebraska will close the regular season on Wednesday by playing host to Colorado at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln at 7:05 p.m.
Nebraska trailed the Cyclones, 21-15, with 6:52 left in the half before Cepero and Pilakowski sparked a 9-0 NU run to take a 24-21 lead with just over four minutes left in the half. After ISU regained the lead at 25-24, the Huskers closed the half with a 6-0 run.